Combined earth boring and post driving apparatus



E. J. LISENBY June 3, 1969 COMBINED EARTH BORING AND POST DRIVING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 1967 Sheet lllll um \Ofi 5 T i n W w @523; FULL A H Mu M ,w I m wm 1r ,/%w w June 3, 1969 J, LlsENBY I 3,447,613

COMBINED EARTH BORING AND POST DRIVING APPARATUS Filed July 7. 1967 4o 59 Q0 v 37 INVENTOR. L/se/ueY AA, 4 vu.

June 3, 1969 E. J. LISENBY 3,447,613

COMBINED EARTH BORING AND POST DRIVING APPARATUS Filed July 7. 1967 Sheet 3 of s in =55 iii E5; 25

@642 J2 If/SEMBY INVENTOR.

United States Patent US. Cl. 173-28 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The earth boring and post driving apparatus disclosed herein is carried on a truck bed and includes an upright frame laterally cantilevered therefrom for supporting an earth auger and a post driver in such a manner that either may be employed independent of each other or combined during an earth boring procedure to assist the auger in biting into the earth. Hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblages are employed to move the earth auger and post driving mechanism into and out of operating position and to maneuver the upright frame into various angular orientations so that the apparatus can function on slopes or uneven terrain. The frame is pivotally mounted on the truck bed by a universal mounting arrangement so that maneuvering of the frame can be readily achieved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to earth boring and post driving equipment and, more particularly, to a novel apparatus of this class adapted to be used on uneven terrain and incorporating a universal mount for attaining a variety of earth tool Working orientations including means for readliy interchanging tools capable of performing earth boring and/or post driving procedures.

Description of the prior art In the past, it has been the conventional practice in the excavation field, as well as other fields, to employ a drill rig carrying rock or soil drilling apparatus for drilling holes such as are required preparatory to the installation of vertical shaft or post. After the hole has been prepared, additional equipment carrying post driving equipment is employed to insert the post into the hole and to forcibly urge the post therein. Conventional drill rigs and post drivers are unnecessarily unwieldly and cumbersome to set up for operation and service. For example, most drill rigs employed in the field of hard surface drilling are required to be firmly anchored to nearby structures or the adjacent ground area. At times, the anchoring arrangement may become quite extensive. Identical problems are also encountered in the use of conventional post driving equipment. Furthermore, it is difficult for conventional drill and post driving rigs to be employed in situations requiring operation at an angle since means are not usually provided for supporting the tool and its attendant driving means in an angular position so that its performance will be of maximum efficiency. It is also difficult to pull out or extract a drill rod or auger from its bore hole by conventional methods.

The difliculties encontered with the use of drill and post driving rigs is particularly acute in specialized situations such as when fence posts are to be installed adjacent heavily frequented roadways and freeways where 'access to the installation site is restricted and vehicular traffic poses a danger not only to the equipment but to the working personnel. Under such conditions, the equipment must be self-contained, capable of functioning in a relatively restricted and confined area and be adapted 'for rapid and portable movement to and from the work 'site.

Typical examples of conventional drilling rigs are dis closed in US. Letters Patents 2,919,899; 2,474,981; 2,562,276; 2,594,098; and 2,639,892. Although suggestions are made in some of these prior art references that the drilling tool can be angularly disposed with respect 'to the ground surface, complex mechanisms are required to support the tool and the ability of the tool to be maneuvered greatly restricted. Therefore, these devices suifer from one or more of the defects noted above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The ditficulties and problems encountered with conventional earth boring and post driving equipment are obviated by the present invention which, in general, provides a self-propelled mobile carrier for supporting a combined earth boring auger and post driving mechanism so that the equipment can be rapidly moved from one location to another with minimum assembly and disassembly time. The auger assembly is movably advanced to a position on a foldable upright frame so that ade- ,quate lateral support is attained during the boring pro- ,cedure. The frame carries a movable weight adapted to urge the auger into biting contact with the earth to be removed so that a required post hole is properly prepared. Means are also included on the upright frame for detachably carrying a post intended to be installed in the previously prepared hole. When such means are attached to the frame, the auger equipment is moved out of the way so that the movable weight may be employed for forcibly urging the post into the post hole prepared by the auger.

The upright frame is movably carried on a universal mount or carriage and a plurality of piston and cylinder assemblages are employed operably connected between the frame and the carriage to permit the frame to be tilted or angularly displaced with respect to the mobile carrier so that the earth anger or post driving procedures can be achieved at angular positions. Means are provided by piston and cylinder assemblages connected between the movable universal mount and the mobile carrier for advancing and retracting the carrier including the upright frame laterally from the side of the mobile carrier to a required distance therefrom so that the frame and associated equipment are cantilevered outwardly from the mobile carriage on the universal mount.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel mounting means for a combined drilling mechanism and post driving assembly which may be readily cantilevered outwardly from the bed of a self-propelled mobile carrier and operated to bore a hole at angle without employing extensive anchoring means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable earth boring and post driving mechanism carried on a foldable upright frame laterally cantilevered from a vehicle bed by means of a universal mount Whereby a variety of angular positions may be attained so that earth boring or post driving can be achieved at any desired angle with respect to the surface of the ground.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel combined earth boring and post driving rig which may be readily assembled and disassembled in a confined area within a relatively short time period and which includes means for interchanging the earth auger and post driving equipment so that separate and sequential procedures may be accommodated.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained mobile carrier for supporting combined earth boring and post driving equipment which are carried by a universal mount and employing a plurality of piston and cylinder assemblages adapted to position either'the earth auger or post driving equipment at an angle with respect to the ground surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularlity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the novel combined earth boring and post driving apparatus of the present invention illustrating the apparatus arranged for earth boring operations employing an auger preparatory to a post driving procedure;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus illustrated during the performance of a post driving procedure;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus as taken in the direction of arrows 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3 as taken in the general direction of arrows 55 thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus as taken in the direction of arrows 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of the weight assembly, drive motor and gear assembly employed in the apparatus; and

FIGURES 8a-e are diagrammatic views showing the various component arrangements of the apparatus during the performance of typical earth boring and post driving procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGURE 1, the novel earth boring and post or pile driving apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow 10 which includes a self-propelled mobile carrier taking the form of a truck 11. The truck includes a flat bed 12 extending rearwardly from a cabin 13 enclosing a conventional motor and drivers compartment. The truck 11 is movably carried on wheel sets 14 and 15. An operators console 16 is carried on the bed 12 which includes the necessary controls for operation of the apparatus.

The apparatus includes an upright frame consisting of upper and lower frame portions 17 and 18 which are coextensive in a substnatially upright vertical position and that is projected laterally in cantilevered fashion from the side of the truck bed 12 between the wheel sets 14 and 15. The frame is employed for movably mounting and guiding a weight assembly 20, which is adapted to slidably move between the opposite upper side members of upper frame portion 17 and lower side members of lower frame portion 18. Mounted on one side of the upper frame portion 17, there is provided a means, indicated by arrow 21, for raising and lowering the weight 20 including a hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblage 22 and 23 via a rope 24. An earth auger assembly, indicated by arrow 25 is movably advanced and retracted between the opposite sides of the lower frame portion 18 and, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the assembly is advanced so that the anger is employed to bore a hole 26 in the ground 27 preparatory to the installation of a post therein. The auger assembly is used in combination with the weight assembly by means of a mechanical coupler 28 adapted to engage with an hydraulic motor unit 30 carried on the uppermost end of the auger assembly 25.

The lower frame portion 18 is movably mounted on a universal mount including an intermediate member 36 so that the frame may be tilted at a desired angle as indicated by the broken lines 32 and 33, respectively. The intermediate member 36 is movably carried directly on theflat bed 12 of the truck and the truck itself supports the apparatus so that additional anchoring means, such as cables, guided wires and ropes are unnecessary to stabilize the frame, and hence the apparatus, during an earth boring or post driving operation. Also carried on the fiat bed 12 of the truck, there is provided a pair of housings 34 and 35 suitable for enclosing an air com: pressor, regulators, generators, pumps, tanks or other equipment necessary to power and actuate the piston and cylinder assemblages and the hydraulic motor 30.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it can be seen that the lower frame portion 18 is mounted on the intermediate member 36 which is pivotally connected on one end along a pivot axis 37 to the lower frame and piovtally connected at its opposite end to a pair of beams 38 and 39 along a pivot axis 40. In this fashion, the frame maybe moved towards or away from the bed 12, as well as up and down, as illustrated in FIGURE 8a. The frame may be so moved by means of a piston and cylinder assemblage indictated by numerals 54 and 55, respectively, which is pivotally connected at bracket 56 to the intermediate member 36 and to bracket 57 carried on a plate 58 extending between the beams 38 and 39.

To actuate the movement of the lower end of the frame 18 so as to tilt the frame to the broken line positions shown in FIGURE 3, piston and cylinder assemblages 41, 42, and 41', 42' are pivotally connected between the upper frame portion 17 and a bracket 43 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The advancement of the pistons 41, 41 outwardly from cylinders 42, 42 will cause the lower frame 18 to rotate about the pivot axis indicated by numeral 37.

The adjacent ends of the upper and lower frame portions 17 and 18 are pivotally connected by means of elements 44 and 45 associated with each side of the frame and which are joined together by means of a pivot pin 46. Similar members indicated by numeral 47 are located on the opposite face of the frame and are joined together by means of a removable lock pin 48. Once the frame portions have been locked together by means of the pin 48, the structure is rigid and for all intents and purposes forms a unitary structure.

The intermediate member 36 and the beams 38 and 39 are coupled to a pair of spaced apart L-shaped slide members 50 which are movably carried in slots formed in stationary beams 51 located in fixed spaced apart relationship on the bed 12. The slide members '50 and hence the frame, are forcibly urged forwardly and rearwardly under the control of a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies 52 and 53.

It is to be noted that the coupler 28 includes a thrust pad or hammer block 60 which is situated within a portion of a receptacle defined by the central portion of the coupler 28. Situated beneath the hammer block is a post 61 intended to be driven into the hole 26 prepared by the auger assembly. The uppermost portion of the post 61 is seated within the receptacle of the coupler 28 in abutment with the lower surface of the hammer block 60. The hammer block may be made of any suitable material for imparting impacting blows developed when the weight 20 is dropped on the upper surface of the block. As a guide for the post 61, a guide 62 is provided which includes a central opening through which the post slid-a- 'bly moves as it is driven into the hole. The guide 62 is retained in position between the sides of the lower frame by means of elements 63-65 which are rotatably carried on the frame by means of removable pivot connections 66 and 67. When the apparatus is employed for earth boring, the elements 63-65 are rotated outwardly so that the guide 62 can be removed. As a means for connecting coupler 28 with the weight assembly during boring operation, a pair of hook connections 68 and 70 are employed which rigidly couple slide members 71 and 72 carried on opposite sides of the weight by pivotal fasteners 73 and 74. The slide members 71 and 72 are disposed within tracks 75 and 76 which are formed in the side members of the frames 17 and 18 in opposing relationship. The weight assembly includes an impact plate 77 which is adapted to forcibly impinge against the upper surface of the hammer block 60 during post driving operations.

Referring now in detail to FIGURE 3, the earth boring auger assembly is illustrated in its retracted position such as when a post driving operation is being performed. The auger assembly includes a spiral auger 80 carried on a drive shaft 81 Which is rotatably driven by the air motor via a gear reduction train included within housings 82 and 83. In its nonoperative position, the auger assembly is seated on a movable frame 84, shown in FIGURE 5, which includes a receptacle 85 against which a coupling collar 86 is removably seated. The frame 84 is slidably carried on a U-shaped member 87 and is advanced and retracted by means of a piston and cylinder assemblage indicated by numerals 88 and 90, respectively. The frame 87 is resiliently mounted to a support structure 91 which is secured to the lower frame 18. The frame 87 is mounted between segments of the support 91 about a pair of spaced apart rods 92 about which a spring 93 is disposed. 'Each side of the air motor 30 is provided with a hook 94 in pivotal connection therewith; the hooks 94 are employed for coupling the auger assembly to the coupler member as shown in FIGURE 7. Such a connection is made when the auger assembly is being used for earth boring purposes. To complete the assembly for such a procedure, members 68 and 70 are fixedly attached between the Weight 20 and the coupler 28. By this construction, the full weight of the weight 20 is directly applied to the auger assembly.

Referring in detail to FIGURE 6, means are shown for tilting the frame in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 1. Such means includes a rocker member 95 rotatably mounted on a support plate 96 which is attacted to the truck bed 12. The rocker member 95 is rotatably secured to the support 96 by means of a king pin 97 so that the terminating ends of legs 98 and 99 may be alternately raised or lowered as desired. The pivotal movement of the rocker member 95 causes the beams 38 and 39 to be raised or lowered accordingly. For example, the beam 38 may be raised or lowered as indicated in broken lines. The rocker member 95 is pivoted by means of a piston and cylinder assemblage 100 and 101 which is pivotally connected between beam 38 and support beam 51.

A piston and cylinder assemblage 102 and 103 is pivotally mounted to the slide member 50 by means of a pivotal connection represented by numeral 104 so that the piston and cylinder assemblage will move when the slide members are driven to advance or retract the frame from the side of the truck bed. This latter assemblage is provided for limiting the extent of rocking or pivoting movement. The extreme terminating end of piston 102 is attached by means of a bearing to a terminal rod 105 which includes downwardly depending angle members 106 fixed on the opposite ends thereof. The terminating ends of the angle members 106 are arranged to interfere with the pivotal travel of beam 39 as the rocker 95 rotates about kingpin 97. When the piston is actuated, the terminating end of the angle members 106 can be raised or lowered so as to permit the rocker member 95 to pivot accordingly. Not only does the angular members 106 provide a limit stop for rotation, but also serves to assist in stabilizing the rocker member and hence the frame at the desired angle of frame tilt.

Actual operation of the earth boring and post driving apparatus of the present invention will be described with respect to FIGURES Sa-e, inclusive. Initially, the apparatus is transported to the work site by means of the truck 11 and the truck is parked adjacent to the area in which a post or pile is to be installed in the ground. In practice, generally a plurality of posts are to be installed such as when a fence or barrier is being erected and, by means of the mobile truck, a first post is installed and the truck moved forward to a second location where the second post is installed and so on until all the posts of the plurality have been installed. Also, the present invention has been found to be particularly adapted to the installation of posts in roadway or highway dividers which include an upper surface of pavement material such as cement, asphalt or the like so that a hard and reinforced surface is presented to the earth boring equipment.

Once the vehicle has been located adjacent the installation site, the operator manipulates the controls on the console 16 to initially actuate piston and cylinder assemblages 41, 41' and 42, 42' so that upper frame portion 17 is raised from its folded position resting on top of enclosure 35 to its vertical position in coextensive relationship with the lower frame portion 18 as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 8a. The frame portion 17 pivots about pivot 46 as the frame portion is raised. Lock pin 48 is installed so that both frame portions are rigidly joined. Next, the piston associated with cylinders 53 are actuated so that the frame is moved outwardly to the side of the truck via slide members 50 to a position substantially over the earth area in which the post is to be installed. At this time, the piston associated with cylinder 55 is actuated so that intermediate member 36 is pivoted about its axis 40 to lower the frame so that the terminating end of lower frame portion 18 rests on the ground straddling the area in which the earth is to be bored. However, it is to be understood that if it is desired to tilt the frame in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck, piston and cylinder assemblages 100 and 101 may be actuated as well as piston and cylinder assemblages 102 and 103. Also, if it is desired to tilt the frame in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the truck, piston and cylinder assemblages 41 and 42 may be activated so that the frame may assume angular positions as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 3.

Once the attitude of the frame has been established and for purposes of description with respect to FIGURES 8b-e, inclusive, the frame is shown in a vertical upright position, and the weight assembly 20, including the coupling member 28 is raised as illustrated in FIGURE 8b. Piston and cylinder assemblage 88 and 90 is actuated to move the auger assembly 25 to its advanced position between the opposite sides of the frame. When the auger assembly has been so disposed, the weight assembly 20 is lowered as illustrated in FIGURE by means of the piston and cylinder assemblage 22 and 23 via rope 24 so that the hammer block of the coupler 28 rests on top of the motor unit 30. At this time, the hooks 94 are engaged with members 89 carried on either side of the central portion of the coupler 28 so that the weight assembly and the auger assembly are united. Next, the movable frame 84 is retracted by the piston and cylinder assemblage 88 and so that the auger assembly downwardly depends from the weight assembly. The weight means being operatively connected with the auger assembly, increases the auger bite during rotation of the auger 80 in the earth when rotated by the motor 30. The weight assembly is slidably supported within the guides 75 and 76 formed in the opposite side members of the frames 17 and 18 in a position substantially within the confines of the frame so as for aligning the center of gravity of the earth auger as closely as possible to the axes of the auger, thus enabling the earth auger to be balanced more easily.

In FIGURE 8d, the earth boring operation or procedure is taking place and as the earth is removed by the flutes of the auger, the removed earth is carried to the top surface and deposited thereon. The weight causes the earth auger assembly to move downwardly. When a suitable depth of bore has been achieved, the piston and cylinder assemblage 22 and 23 is actuated to move the weight assembly and the auger assembly upwardly between the opposite sides of the united frames 17 and 18 wherein the auger assembly is detached from the coupler member 28 and mounted on the slidable support 84. The slidable support is retracted by means of piston and assemblage 88 and 90 so that the auger assembly is removed from between the opposite sides of the lower frame 18.

Next, with reference to FIGURE 82, post guide 62 is installed and a post 61 inserted through the central receptacle thereof so that the major length of the post resides within the bore previously prepared by the earth auger. Next, the weight assembly 20 is repeatedly raised to an upper position and subsequently released so that under the force of gravity, the weight will drop so that its impact plate 77 strikes against the hammer block 60 held by the coupler 28. Since the coupler has been detached from the weight assembly, the coupler rests on the top of post 61 which is received within a receptacle defined by the center portion of the coupler. When the post has been suitably driven to a desired depth, the guide 62 is removed and the coupler 28 reattached to the weight assembly and raised to an at rest position within the lower frame 18.

The frame is then raised upwardly by means of intermediate member 36 being acted upon by the piston associated with cylinder 55 and the pistons associated with cylinders 53 are actuated to retract the frame assembly toward the truck. Next, piston and cylinder assemblages 41 and 42 are activated to effect folding of the upper frame portion 17 after the locking pin 48 has been removed.

Therefore, it can be seen that the earth boring and post driving apparatus of the present invention provides a versatile apparatus for not only boring a hole preparatory to post driving but includes means for driving the post into the prepared hole. The hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblages are adapted to precisely maneuver and orient the frame to any desired angle so that either earth boring or post driving can be achieved in an angular fashion. No anchoring means or stabilizing wires or lines are required since the self-propelled carrier is suflicient to provide the necessary stability and support for the apparatus.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an earth boring and post driving apparatus, the combination comprising:

a self-propelled mobile carrier;

is foldable frame having side members, said side members comprising guide means for guiding movement of weight means along said members;

universal mounting means movably carried on said carrier and pivotally supporting said frame so as to be cantilevered laterally from one side thereof;

an earth auger assembly movably carried on said frame adapted to be advanced to an operating position disposed between said frame side members and having an auger bit adapted to bore a post hole;

said weight means, for an earth boring operation, being detachably connected to said auger assembly to urge said auger bit into biting contact with the earth and, for a post driving operation when said auger assembly is retracted from its operating position, being lifted upwardly along said side members and dropped downwardly along said members to strike the upper end of a post to drive said post into the earth;

and

hydraulic means for tilting said frame and for advancing and retracting said auger assembly.

2. In an earth boring and post driving apparatus, th

combination comprising:

a self-propelled mobile carrier;

a foldable frame having upper and lower side members, said side members comprising guide means for guiding movement of weight means along said side members, said frame including a lower portion comprising said lower side members, an upper portion comprising said upper side members pivotally connected to one end of said lower portion, and means pivotally coupled between said upper portion and said mobile carrier for selectively pivoting said upper side members to and from a first position in alignment with said lower side members and a second position at a substantial angle to said lower side members;

universal mounting means movably carried on said carrier and pivotally supporting said lower portion of said frame so as to be cantilevered laterally to one side thereof;

an earth auger assembly movably carried on said frame adapted to be advanced to an operating position disposed between said frame side members;

said weight means, for an earth boring operation, being detachably coupled to said auger assembly and, for a post driving operation when said assembly is retracted from its operating position, being moved along said side members to strike the upper end of a post to drive said post into the earth; and

hydraulic means for tilting said frame and for advancing and retracting said auger assembly.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including a piston and cylinder assembly for selectively moving said universal mounting means laterally of said carrier to extend and retract said frame.

. The invention as defined in claim 3 including a rocker mechanism incorporated into said universal mounting means on said carrier; and

a piston and cylinder assemblage pivotally connected between said carrier and said rocker mechanism adapted to tilt said frame along a plane parallel to the side of said carrier.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 including a stationary mount secured to said lower frame portion adjacent its pivotal connection with said upper frame portion for supporting said auger assembly in its retracted position; and

a piston and cylinder assemblage pivotally coupled between said auger assembly and said stationary mount adapted to advance said auger assembly to its operating position and to retract said auger assembly to its supported position on said stationary mount.

The invention as defined in claim 5 including a hammer block detachably coupled between said weight means and said auger assembly when said auger assembly is in its operating position so as to provide a unitary weighted auger assembly.

7. The invention as defined in claim 4 including a post holder detachably connected to said lower frame portion having a receptacle for slidably retaining a post intended to be driven into the hole prepared by said auger assembly. 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including means operably coupled between said carrier and said rocker mechanism for selectively limiting the tilt angle of said frame. 7 9. The invention as defined in claim 5 including a piston cylinder assemblage pivotally connected between said upper frame portion and said carrier adapted to selectively tilt said unitary frame in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said carrier.

9 10. The invention as defined in claim 8 including a piston and cylinder assembly carried on said upper frame portion for selectively moving said weight means rectilinearly between said frame side members against the force of gravity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 753,319 3/1904 Saunders.

ERNEST R.

Rowe.

Manning.

Hoen et a1.

Dorkins 173-86 X Rowe et a1. 173-43 PURSER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

